SoulCasts - Siddur

The most important thing we need to know about G-d is that He is relevant. This discussion explores how 18 verses, handpicked from various biblical sources by our sages, drive home what the most important thing we need to know about G-d and what He wants most.

In this discussion, we discuss the fundamentals of a stable relationship and how to preserve one's faith and values for generations to come.

The more you know about what someone does, the better you can appreciate who they are. The more you see, the better you can imagine what is beyond sight. Baruch She'Amar starts the next section of the Siddur by appreciating what G-d does as a springboard to become passionate about who He is.

This class discussed the 4 short paragraphs that precede 'Baruch She'Amar' (Hashem Melech, Hoshienu, Lamnatzeach, L'shem Yichud).

While objective truth can often come off as blunt and uncomfortable, these prayers introduce us to the overall journey of the Siddur; becoming more comfortable with the truth and thus bridging the gap between a reality that we attempt to have faith in and our personal experience.

This prayer officially extols G-d for His holy temple attributed to the work of King David.

Ironically, the prayer mentions nothing about the temple and it wasn't actually built by King David!

This prayer will shed insight onto what a home for G-d really looks like, what we can do to build it, and why it is relevant to the structure of prayer.

This discussion on the 3rd part of Hodu, the opening prayer, explores the mechanics of G-d's forgiveness; G-d values you, not just your behavior. We then discuss the relevance of forgiveness to this point in the prayer journey.

The 2nd part of the Hodu prayer explores where the joy of G-d is found and how this joy is not just reserved for Jewish people.

In this prayer, we discover where to find G-d and where to find joy. As this prayer is the beginning of the formal service, the message of faith and joy serves as the nucleus of prayer.

- Why we remind ourselves of the tradition of the oral Torah prior to prayer

- Meditating on the peace and love of the Messianic era prior to prayer

- The meditation of Kadish and the beauty of commitment

In this session we discuss

- the value of synthesizing kindness and discipline

- can speech ever replace action

- the pros and cons of a spiritual relationship vs a practice-oriented one - which is more convenient and which is more preferable.